Switching teams from ATI to nVidia.

[Kazuki_Fuse]

I just read on megagames.com that the new ATI R520 will only feature 16 pipelines. This has made me seriously consider getting a 7800GTX instead of waiting for the new ATI "Fudo".

I've always loved ATI cards, and in the past preferred them over nVidia. But after hearing about the numerous delays and limited availability of the new cards once released, I really feel like switching teams. The 7800GTX looks like a fantastic card to own.

Rumour has it the new ATI card will compete well against the 7800GTX, however "compete well" means to me that it doesn't blow the 7800GTX away, which was what I was hoping + waiting for. Should I still wait to see what the results are when the R520 comes out?

When is the R580 due out? Is that a next gen card (ie another 12+ months away)? or is it a this year product? I heard that card will have 32 pipelines and run at amazing speed so I'm wondering if I should hold out for that.

 

[Cole]

Well the problem is with the pipelines is we know soo little about the card.

If it indeed has a Univeral shader that do both pixel and vertex then pipelines may have to be counted diffrently.

ATI has released no information. We have heard none things, but I don't believe any are proven.

 

[Kazuki_Fuse]

Yeah I heard about how ATI claims that the card uses a unified shader. I take it with a grain of salt though because it all sounds very similar to their pixel shader 2.0b feature, which by the way was next to worthless and their "bagging" of SM3.0, saying back then that cards didn't need it.

This whole R520 saga brings flashbacks of the 'ole nVidia FX days *shudders*.

I hope I'm wrong because I'd love for my next enthusiest card to be an ATI one. I'm just getting a bit tired of their attitude toward consumers, and them leaving us in the dark the whole time. I mean if they're gonna charge 500USD for a video card, I wanna know what I'm saving up for.

 

[J_Tweedy]

I dont think you should jump to conclusions about the pipeline thing- as ive said before, it wouldn't surprise me if Ati redefines how people look at the number of pipelines as a measure of a gfx card. It seems like its going to be clocked insanely high, and with a number of other features like you mentioned.
I would say the worst thing you can do is make a rash decision purchase. If you can, wait it out- there is never a good time to buy, but at least you will be able to see the opposition compared properly.

 

[Kyorisu]

The latest card from either side is bound to kick arse to begin with. There only real difference is how much of an enthusiast you are. I'm saving up for a crossfire system at the moment, and I'm currently building a Nvidia box for a mate of mine.